It's not hard, and you'll do ok if you're not a greedy at it. You definitely need to keep watch over your investments, You just can't sit around, and hope. The best advice I ever received about them is look at the stock and try to understand it on a personal level. If you can't explain to yourself or someone else why you think something is a good investment, and will grow, then don't go putting your money into it.

you wake up early and watch the pre-market report, and you trade all day.

all you're trying to do is ride on the coat-tails of the big market movers.

if a stock pop's 3 percent, you're not gonna get that full 3 percent, all you wanna do is catch that middle 1 percent.

the easy thing is all you have to do is pay attention... and use common sense (usually.. sometimes common sense doesn't work. lol).

there's a hurricane? get long oil and short airline's.

there's a natural disaster? short insurance co's with the greatest exposure.

co loses a lawsuit? short it and cover before it bounces back... then get long and hold it on the way back up for a quick pop.

pharma co gets a drug approved? that's good for a 5 point pop, all you wanna do is catch the middle 3 points.

ect, ect, ect....

if you don't pay attention you WILL lose your money, so in that sense, sure, it's like a casino... but when I go to the casino and jump on the roulette table, i'm not throwing chips over the table all willy nilly.... i'm looking at the odd's of the past numbers hitting and i'm playing those, and i'm spreading my chips... top 3rd, end 3rd, black, 4 corners, ect... you increase your chances of winning, but lower your overall winnings. i'd rather make a little for a long time, than make a lot once or twice.

Yes and I've been doing it a long time. One has to understand each market segment and the drivers within each. The feds QE program is driving up the market at present so it's not a good entry point. It's best for new investors to index the market or market segments and dollar cost average over time so your buying at different market levels.

Start doing some reading and watching market wrap ups. Going in based on market tips etc does not turn out well.

Yes and I've been doing it a long time. One has to understand each market segment and the drivers within each. The feds QE program is driving up the market at present so it's not a good entry point. It's best for new investors to index the market or market segments and dollar cost average over time so you buying at different market levels.

Start doing some reading and watching market wrap ups. Going in based on market tips etc does not turn out well.

and you're looking at capital gains rates... not ordinary income rates for taxes.

in CA, your day will start at 6am at the latest to catch pre-market stuff, market will open at 630am and will close at 1pm. catch some post market stuff, then go on with your day... go to an actual job, ect... catch more post-market stuff and put together notes for the next day and get to bed by 10pm so you can be up and alert by 5am.

Municipal Utility bonds. If the TVA goes under we can all reach between our legs and kiss our ass goodbye anyway….its over. Put a hundred bucks a month in there and come back in 30 years and odds are you can retire in style. I was foolish and did not do this until I was 55. 73 now and looking good thank you.

and you're looking at capital gains rates... not ordinary income rates for taxes.

in CA, your day will start at 6am at the latest to catch pre-market stuff, market will open at 630am and will close at 1pm. catch some post market stuff, then go on with your day... go to an actual job, ect... catch more post-market stuff and put together notes for the next day and get to bed by 10pm so you can be up and alert by 5am.

Only problem in CA and NY for that matter are the taxes. That's why NH is a nice place to trade with no cap gain tax and no income tax.